The UN said Friday (February 9th) that surging violence across Yemen had pushed some 85,000 people from their homes in the past 10 weeks, with hundreds continuing to flee each day, AFP reported.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said more than 70% of those displaced since December 1st had fled a military escalation in al-Hodeida and Taez on Yemen's west coast.
UNHCR voiced particular concern for displaced people remaining in areas close to the hostilities in the two governorates, where conditions are continuing to rapidly deteriorate, "exposing people to violence and disease, without basic services".
"Most of those displaced in the governorates of al-Hodeida and Taez remain hosted by relatives or friends, trapped inside homes or in caves as ground clashes, aerial bombardment and sniper fire rage around them," UNHCR spokeswoman Cecile Pouilly said.
The UNHCR also said it was observing a spike in new displacements from other frontline areas across Yemen, including in the border governorates of al-Jawf and Hajjah, and in the eastern province of Shabwa.
"The main needs of the displaced and other conflict-affected populations continue to be access to shelter, health, food and water and sanitation," Pouilly said.
